Rites vs Rituals: Explore Religious Rites of Passage Quiz and Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the unique performative practice of the Whirling Dervishes?

Playing musical instruments

Meditating in silence

Whirling dance (correct)

Reciting the Qur'an

Who founded the Mawlawiyya or Mevlevi Order of Sufi Islam?

Jalal ad-din Rumi (correct)

Theoogian

Whirling Dervishes

Mystic

What is the significance of stillness in understanding the Whirling Dervishes' dance?

It prevents understanding

It is irrelevant

It is essential to understanding (correct)

It enhances the performance

What type of music accompanies the Whirling Dervishes' performance?

Sufi music Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the sympathetic nervous system of the performers becomes overstimulated?

The orientation association structure in the brain shuts down Signup and view all the answers

'During this religious practice, the performer becomes a vessel to receive divine love and distributes it to others.' What depicts this act during the performance?

The positioning of their hands Signup and view all the answers

'One must be still. And in order to truly understand stillness, one must dance.' What is the underlying meaning conveyed by this statement?

'Dancing and stillness are interconnected' Signup and view all the answers

What is embalming primarily used for in Canada and the US?

To prevent decay during the funeral period Signup and view all the answers

Why do some cultures practice methods of preserving the body?

To maintain the integrity of the body for the soul's next life Signup and view all the answers

What did ancient Egyptians believe was required for continuation after death?

Preserving the body through embalming Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant limitation of the mummification process practiced by ancient Egyptians?

It was time-consuming and expensive Signup and view all the answers

Which culture considers living with the dead as a normal part of their tradition?

Trojans in Sulawesi Signup and view all the answers

What belief system is associated with practices of preserving the body?

Belief in an afterlife Signup and view all the answers

How does embalming differ from mummification?

Embalming is a fast process, while mummification is time-consuming Signup and view all the answers

What was a common motivation for preserving bodies according to the text?

To ensure a smooth transition to the afterlife Signup and view all the answers

How did ancient Egyptians ensure preservation of their bodies?

By using elaborate mummification processes Signup and view all the answers

What type of correlation was found between societies that have attribute gods and degrees of specialization in society?

Positive correlation Signup and view all the answers

Which river in New Zealand has been a central part of Maori religion for over 700 years?

Whanganui River Signup and view all the answers

According to the myth, who did Pihanga marry that caused jealousy among other mountains?

Tongariro Signup and view all the answers

What happened when Tongariro caught Pihanga with Taranaki?

Taranaki exploded with anger Signup and view all the answers

What did Taranaki do after being forced to flee due to the anger of Tongariro?

Plunged west Signup and view all the answers

What did the furrow formed by Taranaki's steps become?

The Whanganui River Signup and view all the answers

How many levels does the text mention in relation to societies and specialization?

Three levels Signup and view all the answers

'Tupua' is described as the river of _____ power in Maori religion.

'Sacred' Signup and view all the answers

'Pihanga and Tongariro spend hundreds of years together but. She was tempted by the love of Taranaki.' This situation is an example of ____.

'Love triangle' Signup and view all the answers

What do the Azande call the innate ability to conduct witchcraft?

Mangu Signup and view all the answers

How is mangu described in relation to a witch?

It leaves the body during sleep and enters the victim's body. Signup and view all the answers

What oracle is used by the Azande to determine if an illness is caused by witchcraft?

Dakpa Signup and view all the answers

How does the poison oracle determine the identity of a witch among the Azande?

By poisoning a chicken for a yes/no answer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the last course of action involving the poison oracle (Benge) among the Azande?

Identifying the witch. Signup and view all the answers

In Azande society, what can tensions between co-wives lead to?

Accusations of witchcraft. Signup and view all the answers

What is used by the Azande to determine the course of action to treat an illness?

'Iwa' Signup and view all the answers

How does the husband of an accused witch typically respond once Benge determines the witch?

'Cools' her mangu by drinking water and spitting it out. Signup and view all the answers

'Witchcraft in Euro-American societies is influenced by:'?

Christian ideas about good and evil. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a coming of age ceremony?

To mark the transition from childhood to adulthood Signup and view all the answers

In terms of rites of passage, what characterizes the 'Transition Phase'?

The process of moving from one status to another Signup and view all the answers

Which phase of rites of passage involves separating the individual from their former status?

Separation Phase Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is condemned by the global community?

It is a form of violence against women Signup and view all the answers

How do Coming of Age ceremonies for girls usually mark their transition?

By getting tattoos or new names Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Rite of Passage in imprinting new social statuses?

To legitimize and imprint new statuses on the community's memory Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for individuals to undergo Rites of Passage in society?

To maintain social order and legitimacy of statuses Signup and view all the answers

'Status' is defined as a social position that involves which of the following?

Appropriate behavior and obligations Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Whirling Dervishes and Sufi Islam

The Whirling Dervishes, a Sufi Muslim order, attain an Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) through repetitive stimulation.
The Mawlawiyya, or Mevlevi Order, was founded by Jalal ad-din Rumi, a renowned Sufi poet, theologian, and mystic.
The dance is accompanied by music, Qur’anic recitations, and Dhikr Allah (forms of devotion and remembrance of God).
The performer becomes a vessel to receive divine love and distributes it to others, depicted by hand positioning throughout the performance.
The sympathetic nervous system becomes overstimulated, leading to the orientation association structure in the brain shutting down, resulting in a feeling of oneness with the universe or God.

Embalming and Body Preservation

Embalming is a method of preserving the body, usually practiced in cultures that believe the body's integrity is necessary for the soul's next life.
Ancient Egyptians developed a process of mummification, which was time-consuming and expensive, only accessible to those who could afford it.

Torajan Culture

The Torajans, an Indonesian culture, live with the dead as a normal part of their culture.

Maori Religion

The Whanganui River in New Zealand has been a central part of Maori religion for over 700 years.
According to myth, the river was formed when Taranaki, a mountain, fled after being caught with Pihanga, the beautiful maiden mountain, by Tongariro.

Evans-Pritchard Ethnography

Evans-Pritchard conducted fieldwork among the Azande between 1926-1930.
The Azande believe in witchcraft as an everyday reality, calling the innate ability to conduct witchcraft "mangu".
Mangu is considered the soul of witchcraft and can leave the body during sleep to enter the body of a victim.

Witchcraft Accusations

Witchcraft accusations are based on social tension and can grow out of negative emotions or behavior such as greed, envy, and hatred.
Azande society supports polygyny, and tensions can grow between co-wives if one is favored over another.

Divination and Oracles

The Azande use three oracles to determine the cause of illness: Dakpa (termite oracle), Iwa (rubbing board oracle), and Benge (poison oracle).
If the Benge determines the witch, the husband elicits the assistance of the chief/deputy, and the accused is confronted and agrees to a ritual to remove the mangu.

Witchcraft in Euro-American Societies

In Euro-American societies, witches are also considered evil, and witchcraft is influenced by Christian ideas about evil.

Rituals and Rites of Passage

Occasional rituals are performed when an occasion arises, such as coming-of-age ceremonies and death rites.
Rites of passage involve a transition from one status to another, serving to legitimize the new status and imprint it on the community's collective memory.
Rites of passage have three phases: separation, transition, and incorporation.

Coming of Age Ceremonies

Coming of Age ceremonies usually occur after a girl's first menses.
Girls may be given new names, new clothes, tattoos, or scars to mark this transition.
However, in some cases, girls might be forced to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is highly condemned by the global community.

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Description

Test your knowledge on various religious rituals and rites of passage that are practiced in different cultures. Explore concepts like daily prayers, coming of age ceremonies, and death rites, that mark significant transitions in individuals' lives. Understand how these rituals play a role in legitimizing new statuses and fostering community traditions.

Religious Rituals and Rites of Passage Quiz